SCUTTLEBUTT 1607 - June 18, 2004

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RETURN VISIT
Newport, R.I. (AP) The America's Cup trophy is paying a social call.
Yachting's esteemed silver jug is returning to Newport this weekend for the
first time in 21 years as part of a world tour. The Australians took the
trophy from the Americans in this yachting capital in 1983, ending a
132-year winning streak. The defeat closed an era for the "City by the
Sea," which had become a choice spot a century earlier when well-heeled New
Yorkers covered Newport's cliffs with marble summer mansions and filled its
harbors with sleek racing boats.

The visit by the "Auld Mug" highlights Newport's place in America's Cup
history and gives the city a chance to relive if just for a week its glory.
"This is the Super Bowl of sailing. And it was played out here for a long,
long time," said SallyAnne Santos, creative director at The Museum of
Yachting in Newport. "The cup became a huge part of what this area was all
about."

The America's Cup trophy will be brought to Rhode Island by the Swiss
syndicate, Alinghi, which won it in March 2003 in Auckland, New Zealand,
when it beat defending champion New Zealand. It will be on display for
viewing. Alinghi will face BMW-Oracle Racing in the weeklong UBS Trophy
Rhode Island regatta off of Newport's Fort Adams State Park. The exhibition
races, which have no effect on standings in the America's Cup competition,
mark the first time since 1983 that Newport has hosted this style of match
racing. - Brooke Donald, Associated Press, full story:
http://cbs11tv.com/sports/ReturntoNewport-ss/resources_news_html

FRESH ASSAULT ON RACE RECORD
Roy Disney and his Pyewacket crew have returned to Newport with a new MAXz
86 footer built not so much break, but smash the record for the 630 mile
Newport/Bermuda Race beyond the reach of the traditional racing yacht. Two
years ago, Disney's previous Pyewacket set the present record of 53 hours
39mins 22secs. Now, he and his crew have high expectations of knocking at
least 15 hours off that time.

The only problem for Disney is that there are two other crews with equally
high expectations. Hasso Plattner's German entry Morning Glory is identical
to Disney's rocket ship, while Rich and Doug DeVos have the same Reichel
Pugh designed 86 footer Windquest which relies on water ballast tanks for
her stability instead of the complex swing keels that the other boats
employ. Previous racing form gives little indication of who might win. When
the three first raced together in the Caribbean over the winter, the
Pyewacket crew led to the first windward mark on each occasion, but then
lost their way further down the course. "I didn't know there were so many
ways to lose a yacht race," Disney jokes. "It wasn't until I hit my head
and had to stay ashore for the last day that we got our act together."

The Pyewacket crew have been in Newport this past week preparing and
practicing for what Disney forecasts will be 'a great race'. On Wednesday,
I joined the crew for a day of sail testing on Rhode Island Sound and
witnessed first hand the extraordinary speed potential of these boats.
Sailing in just 3.5 knots of true wind, we were slipping effortlessly
through the water at almost 3 times that speed. "There are not many times
when we can't sail faster than the wind," Disney enthuses. "If we get 15
knots winds, we will be doing 20 knots easily." Dee Smith, the skipper of
Pyewacket's rival, Morning Glory is just as confident. "These boats can
cover 500 miles in a day on delivery, so we should be able to do this race
in a day and a half!" - Barry Pickthall. Event website:
http://www.bermudarace.com

TRIVIA QUESTION
What latitude defines the beginning of the Southern Ocean? (Answer below)

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QUOTE / UNQUOTE
"In a recent Scuttlebutt it was noted that a Vinnie Gagliana was heading up
a possible America's Cup Challenge from the US Virgin Islands. Please let
it be known that neither St. Thomas Yacht Club, St. Croix Yacht nor the
Virgin Islands Sailing Association has anything to with, or sanctions, this
Challenge." - From Bill Canfield, Vice President, VI Sailing Association

"Out of respect for the Virgin Islands and the great efforts that were made
by the VI Challenge, I must caution the media on the validity they place on
press releases about a new Cup challenge from the Virgin Islands. I believe
everyone would be as shocked as I was to learn that it is a teenager with a
big computer, and an even bigger imagination. We appreciate the credibility
you give us as a sailing nation, but I would urge you to research this one
further." - Peter Holmberg, Commodore, St. Thomas Yacht Club

AGREEMENT AT LAST
A meeting took place late yesterday between Rita Barbera, the Mayoress of
Valencia and the President of the Valencian 2007 Consortium, and Jordi
Sevilla, the Minister for Public Administration. During the meeting, that
lasted over two hours, the Minister asked for more time to define and
fine-tune the complete financing of the Americas Cup. However, he did
guarantee Government support for the first stage of the works that are
scheduled to start on Monday. He also affirmed that a full meeting of the
Consortium would take place on Monday to approve the credit necessary for
the works to begin, and added: "there is nothing to worry about, everything
will happen on time and the event will be a success." -
http://www.valencialife.net

THE TRANSAT
At 03:21:25 GMT (23:21:25 local time), Joe Harris and Open 50 Wells Fargo -
American Pioneer crossed The Transat 2004 finish line off Boston Harbour to
take second place in the 50ft monohull class. Harris completed the
gruelling 2,800 miles transatlantic course in 16 days 14 hours 21 minutes
25 seconds at an average speed of 7.03 knots having raced the final hours
in darkness at speeds of 16+ knots through the busy, coastal shipping lanes.

The early stages of The Transat 2004 saw Harris and 50ft monohull class
winner, Kip Stone (Artforms), locked in a close battle, constantly trading
first place as they stretched out ahead of the two trailing Open 50s; Okami
(Jacques Bouchacourt) and Branec III (Roger Langevin). This All-American
match race came to an end on Day 10 of the race; Harris takes up the story:
"The weather models I was analyzing for the southern tip of the Grand Banks
showed a chance to capture some nice northerly wind. I headed south, but
when I arrived, the northerlies were nowhere to be seen. I was left
wallowing in the mind-numbing stillness of the Atlantic as Artforms and
Okami flew towards Boston. I need to keep reminding myself of the simple
goal I established as a first-timer to this race - to finish." Full story,
http://www.thetransat.com/en/ShowArticle.aspx?ArticleID=482

NEWS BRIEFS
* According to the Italian website Farevela, citing "sources close to the
team," America's Cup defender Alinghi and skipper Russell Coutts would be
divorcing. After months of rumors, a press conference could be organized
next week to officially announce the news. - Cup in Europe,
http://www.cupineurope.com/LatestNews/2007-Alinghi-EN6.htm

* North Sails has partnered with Chris Bedford of Sailing Weather Services
to provide complimentary weather forecasts for Block Island Race Week from
June 21-25! Daily forecasts will be emailed to subscribers each morning. To
sign up, visit the North Sails Weather Center:
http://na.northsails.com/ew/EW_main.taf

* (18 June 2004) Australian yacht, Alfa Romeo, the winner of the 2002 Rolex
Sydney to Hobart Race, has taken line honours in Europe's most prestigious
yacht race, the Giraglia Rolex Cup, giving skipper and owner, Neville
Crichton a clean sweep of line honours wins in the event following his
victories in the three in-shore events prior to the 243 mile off-shore race
which finished in Genoa today.

* The Sixth International Sailing Summit will be held in Annapolis, Md.
Oct. 5-6, immediately prior to the Annapolis Sailboat Show, and is expected
to draw an international crowd of industry and sport executives,
administrators and enthusiasts. The event is open to everyone involved in
sailing including boat manufacturers, retailers, sailmakers, designers,
marketers and advertisers, charter boat and sailing school operators,
association and trade executives, publishers, competitive athletes, etc. To
learn more and/or to register online, visit http://www.sailingsummit.com

TRIVIA ANSWER
The Southern Ocean has the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar
body of water totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of
water lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica
and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude. Source:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/oo.html

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LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com)
(Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be
edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room nor a
bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best
shot and don't whine if others disagree.)

* From Trenter Ellis (UK): The recent suggestion of a rating credit for
yachts with dogs aboard presents the amusing scenario of skippers competing
to find the lightest possible canine crew member in order to get the credit
and still keep the weight down. The bars of yacht clubs around the world
will be filled with burly winch grinders holding little yorkshire terriers
on dyneema leads and kevlar collars. What an excellent prospect!

* From Chip Pitcairn: Re Bill Buchan's time allowance for dogs and
liveaboards, I long for the old non PC days when here in Corpus Christi the
Wednesday night races gave time allowance for women on board with extra
credit if they were in bathing suits. Seriously, the idea of a time
allowance for juniors, dogs, liveaboards and novices is great. If such
rules should come about locally I would be glad to rent my teenager and my
two Labs to the highest bidder.

* From Richard Hazelton, Editor 48 ° North Sailing Magazine:
Congratulations to Bill Buchan for his induction into Sailing World's Hall
of Fame. Elite sailors knows Bill as a nice guy who quietly wins
championships against the best in the world. We in the Northwest also know
him as a fine gentleman whose high standards of excellence, both on and off
the course, have been past on to his entire sailing family. It's always a
pleasure to share a course or a conversation with the Buchans.

* From R. C. Keefe: Glad to read about another milestone for John
Kostecki's career. Over a 22 year period starting in 1968, through
syndication the members of the St. Francis Yacht Club raised over $2.5
million dollars and built and campaigned 7 Six Meters racing all over the
world. Tom Blackaler sailed St. Francis IV in 1969, and in 1975 won the Six
Meter world championship in Seattle with St. Francis V. A young John
Bertrand then took over from Tom Blackaller and sailed St. Francis VII for
several seasons very successfully in Europe and Australia. Paul Cayard then
took over St. Francis VIII, and the new St. Francis IX in 1986 almost
wining the World Championship at Seawanhaka. The next World Championship
was in Sweden in 1989, which was won by St. Francis IX with John Kostecki
sailing the boat. Blackaller to Bertrand to Cayard to Kostecki; quite a run
for the junior program of the St. Francis Yacht Club in a world famous
class that took them all to bigger and better accomplishments.
Congratulations John Kostecki.

* From Ralph Deeds: In my opinion, Bill Lapworth is a glaring omission from
the Sailing World Hall of Fame. I have owned two of his designs and sailed
on several others, all of which sail well which is more than can be said
for some of the designs of others on Sailing World's list.

* From Mark Bird: In response to your article regarding the Otago Daily
Times reader survey re: Emirates Team New Zealand's 2007 America's Cup
challenge. I say go for it Mr. Dalton. What would 82 sheep hugging Otago
farmers have in common with the 2007 America's Cup challenge anyway? It's
like asking ranchers in Montana if they would support Team Dennis Conner.
Perhaps the New Zealand public should reflect on the economic benefits the
America's Cup bought over the last ten years, the $33 million Government
subsidy is a drop in the bucket. Kiwi's, dig into your pockets and support
like you have done in the past and be proud of your previous successes.

* From Ron M: TelstraClear also ran a poll on exactly the same subject, but
the results though were somewhat different: 82% said yes, 14% said no and
5% didn't know.

* From Robert Aliamus (edited to our 250-word limit): With all due respect
for Mr. Gregory, nothing is wrong with our sports department! Let's look at
the facts around the 2004 Women's Worlds Match Racing Championship. It took
more than 1 year to organize plan and implement this regatta. It took 150
volunteers over 15 days to run it. It took 14 teams some coming as far away
as Australia, France, Denmark, Sweden and Italy to make it happen(women
with jobs, some are students, some are even mothers). 240 matches were
sailed in 4 days to complete 2 full round robins!! (this had never been
done before). Volunteers were on hand every day at 6:00 am to prepare the
yachts, all the support boats and serve breakfast. Dock time for crews was
7:00 am leaving for the race course at 8:00 am. Back by 6, 6:30 pm. 15
minutes downtime then full post race debriefings. Dinners every night
mandatory for all crews (sponsors, press, etc...). Day ends at 10:00 pm.

The prize for these women? The pleasure to compete. The recognition and
respect from their fellow competitors. The knowledge that 11 out of 14
teams came and tried. And for 3 of them medals. And that's it Mr. Gregory.
No Wimbledon or PGA purse but for most of them debts (yes they do pay for
their trips, expenses etc.) All of these exceptional women know the rules
that govern match racing, and they accept and abide by them. So please do
give them a little more respect and recognition.

* From Chris Ericksen: John Rumsey mentions that ESPN runs things like the
Darts World Championship on ESPN but not sailing ('Butt 1604). I think I
understand why: most of the sports on television--not all of them,
certainly, but most--happen in closed arenas or settings, usually have
easy-to-understand rules and are activities in which most folks have
participated. I've played darts, but how many folks have raced sailboats?
Cricket will probably never be a big television sport in the US any more
than sailing will be for similar reasons: arcane (to Americans) rules and
scoring, and not something many of us have done.

And he says that "sailing coverage is more interesting than darts." I
agree--except that I'm a sailor (as he is) and not a tournament
dart-thrower. I'm sure dart aficionados--who have doubtless been
complaining about the lack of TV coverage on their sport and griping about
Gary Jobson's hour-long sailing special on ESPN--were thrilled.